Shloka 4
वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्
Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit
तमालक्ष्य महाबाहु: कुरूणामृषभस्तदा । गाण्डीवं विक्षिपंस्तूर्ण सहसा समुपाद्रवत्,उसको ऐसा करते देख कुरुश्रेष्ठ महाबाहु अर्जुनने गाण्डीव धनुषपर टंकार देते हुए सहसा वेगपूर्वक उसपर धावा किया
tam ālakṣya mahābāhuḥ kurūṇām ṛṣabhas tadā | gāṇḍīvaṃ vikṣipan tūrṇaṃ sahasā samupādravat ||
Seeing him act in that manner, the mighty-armed Arjuna—bull among the Kurus—swiftly twanged and brandished the Gāṇḍīva bow and, without hesitation, rushed upon him with sudden speed. The verse underscores the warrior’s immediate, duty-driven response when confronted with a threatening or improper act, where decisive action is taken to restrain harm and uphold order.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kṣatriya’s dharma includes swift, proportionate action when disorder or danger appears; hesitation can enable harm. The verse presents Arjuna’s readiness as an ethical stance: protect dharma by timely intervention.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna, noticing someone’s provocative or dangerous behavior, immediately brandishes and twangs his famed bow Gāṇḍīva and charges toward that person.